The only global creative network for women

SheSays is an award-winning organization running free mentorship and events to women in the creative industry. Why? Because we want to see more women at the top. So browse around, sign-up for a chapter in your city and join any of our free events.

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Our celebration of Women’s History Month continued on March 16th as we hosted our second of four events for the month. Partnering with our friends at General Assembly, we were welcomed by the new River North co-working space Coalition Impact to discuss career change in the creative sector.

The discussion was wonderfully moderated by Loren Greiff, UX/Mobile/Design Recruiter at Vitamin T, along with four smart and passionate panelists from varied backgrounds.

L’Oreal Thompson Payton left what her family called a “steady job” with Chicago Public Schools to chase her passion for writing and non-profits as the Media Relations Manager of Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (where her family may have joked non-profit means no profit). L’Oreal had always dreamed of becoming a journalist who writes stories that speak to young women of color, and this allowed her to use her writing and editing prowess while doing work that benefits her community.

Nina Polson was working as an Account Executive at an ad agency, and wanted to be a bigger part of the creative process.There were no opportunities within her company to transition into a more creative role, so she decided to travel abroad to do some soul searching, then took a UX class at General Assembly. Now she is an Associate UX Architect with Critical Mass, and loving it.

Andy Eninger’s career shift felt like the Wild West, shifting out of building databases in IT during the early internet days where job searching is not what it is today. He took up improv as a hobby, never knowing it could become a career. With hard work, he is now the Head of The Writing Program at Second City.

Finally Angela Vitzthum had been in a leadership role with a creative recruiting firm for five years. It gave her a deep understanding of the creative workforce, in addition to her previous design experience. She knew she wanted to make the shift to product, and took a class with General Assembly. Eight weeks into her 12 week program, she landed a new career as Director of Product at the startup Snap Mobile, soon promoted to Partner.

What were the steps you took to make a big change?

“On paper, it was my dream job, but it wasn’t … I lost passion and got burned out. I knew I needed to use my superpowers in a different way.” - L’Oreal Thompson Payton

“I quit my job and it was scary - I pictured myself doing something - and then I was able to do it.” - Andy Eninger

“I set up coffee dates - I bought so many drinks to pick people’s brains.” - Nina Polson

“Build your network - to help you before you jump.” - Andy Eninger

“Knowing what you like to do and go find it.” - Andy Eninger

“Call yourself what you want to be from day one.” - Nina Polson

“Building credibility and gaining confidence in a new roll is something you don’t think about.” - Angela Vitzthum

“You’re good enough - all the things along your path were for a reason to get you where you are.” - L’Oreal Thompson Payton